Sea Gypsies: The Far Side of the World (2017) User Reviews

Interesting Travelogue

[bigverybadtom · 7/10 · 13 October 2017]

A group of rather irresponsible people, some with small children, band together to take a rather random trip to Antarctica and then to Chile. Using an adventure boat its original builder never completed, they build it up and scrape up money to make the trip. But the crew cannot be too irresponsible-the journey requires great know-how and very hard work and will go into very dangerous waters indeed, where all sorts of possible dangers can await.

The movie concentrates mostly on the crew itself and how they have to work and know exactly what to do and when to do it. Those who are expecting a lot of nature photography are going to be disappointed. But the movie succeeds in making the point that being a gypsy is definitely not a life of ease.

The Greatest Film You've Never Heard Of

[handfuloflogan · 10/10 · 30 June 2021]

If you're a fan of the ocean, sailing, first hand documentaries or Antarctic exploration and you haven't seen this film, YOU ARE MISSING OUT. Sea Gypsies is one of the most wholesome and genuine adventure/nature documentaries that I've ever had the privilege of seeing. Move over David Attenboro, Nico Edwards is a masterful film maker and commentator and each crew member brings their own brand of comedy, commentary, skill, and knowledge. With Captain Clem at the helm, Ayack fixing the sails, and even an appearance by David Bowie, this film is a unique opportunity to watch what can be best described as 'some dudes' take on one of the most challenging voyages of the modern age, in the most inhospitable area of the planet, with questionable equipment, just for the sheer joy of it. The great camera work and knowledgeable commentary is enriched with an amazing soundtrack featuring songs by Dirtwire and The Glitch Mob, making one really begin to feel the high's and low's of the passage, as if they are part of the voyage. This isn't your average adventure documentary. The presentation of content is much more gritty and realistic, adding a very human feeling. The crew of Infinity successfully inspire awe and provide you with a laugh, all while educating you on the most isolated place on Earth. Watching these men interact with the seas and Earth around them, and the respect and care they show to their environment is phenomenal and commendable. With its witty banter, great music, and breathtaking imagery, I cannot recommend this film highly enough!

I've watched every sailing documentary and this is my favorite

[gonzalezbella-92683 · 10/10 · 8 November 2021]

Loved this documentary. Look forward to feeling like a part of their crew. I've watched literally every sailing documentary available, and this one is by far my favorite. Just true sailors doing an incredible thing.

Amazing!!! Really really gd. You won't regret it

[v-12882 · 10/10 · 5 September 2019]

Absolutely brilliant. Very rarely levee reviews but I don't understand why this has soo few?! It's fantastic. Easy to watch. Really worth your time. Soo much better than the recent rock climbing documentaries etc... I get bored on those and think, hmmm maybe I should commit to a real film instead. I guarantee with this documentary type film, you will feel sucked in from 5 minutes until the very end.

Absolutely amazing, how this isn't trending I seriously don't know....

Please watch and thank me later.

Changed My Life

[neilalmy · 10/10 · 24 March 2020]

Simply incredible. If you have an unquenchable thirst for adventure Sea Gypsies is your prefect film. This documentary completely changed my life. Watched it once, six months later I was living on SV Infinity.

Truly Inspiring!

[adamwinter-18252 · 10/10 · 28 September 2020]

Incredible journey with an awesome crew and ship! I cant wait for more movies and episodes of this crew's adventures! I highly recommend this movie!!

Lame. Ignore the shill reviews.

[Top_Dawg_Critic · 3/10 · 1 February 2021]

Decent attempt for a docu-drama-adventure, but the constant duo concert is annoying, and what's with the cheap CGI effects? It's a generous and REAL 3/10.

Inspiring Adventure!

[scubdivgrl · 9/10 · 13 January 2021]

I found this movie by accident and I'm so happy I watched it. Between what they are able to accomplish with ingenuity and sheer will amazed me. It makes one realize how much can be achieved by working together.

Between the lack of money, the polar bears, the equipment, and the announcement that they will be eating vegan made me laugh and cry, and kept me on the edge of my seat the whole time.

Captain Clemens is multi talented leader and reminds us the only reason they can even attempt this dangerous journey is because of global warming.

Well, to the life fantastic...

[williamguilfoyle · 10/10 · 25 April 2020]

And it was fantastic!

What an adventure! Which is what we are all doing anyways. It's just some of us choose to make the adventure a little more safe/boring.

The greatest parts of this wonderful documentary include the wisdom of the crew and captain, shared nakedly to camera/audience once in awhile throughout. Little gifts of wisdom that the filmmaker was wise enough to know were meant for our (the audience's) ears.

The other wise move on the filmmaker's part was to give us tastes of the environmental and ethical catastrophes humans create, by showing us interactions in the whaling trade, as well as focus on the plastic pollution of the ocean and the decrease in life abundance in the fish population. It wasn't a "hit you over the head" endeavor, like most environmentalist films. It was simply just a bite of the whole pizza of the adventure they were on. Therefore, the adventure took precedence, which made it a story, and not a lecture.

I've learned so much from this film, and I'm so grateful.

Be ye on yer way, matee! Go onward cross the windward skies forever safe and warm.

ADVENTURE AWAITS 8.5-9

[FreeToExpress · 9/10 · 7 April 2020]

I was definitely pleased watching this short documentary on a a group of people, not professionals , taking a dangerous trip from New Zealand to Patagonia to fulfill there thirst for adventure.It details the people in the crew, there lifestyle , jobs on the boat and the experience of sailing and the environment they come across .They encounter problems along the way but deal with it in a up beat attitude . I felt inspired and wanting adventure after viewing so I definitely think it's worth a watch!

Terrible narration ruins the film's potential

[trudithnjudith · 4/10 · 6 November 2021]

I usually love sea travel stories, but this film's constant terrible narration ruins its potential. Every narration is an overused catch phrase or cliche spoken in a sing-songy tone that doesn't fit the mood of the action on screen. Actual narrator quote "we live in the moment and sail on a whim on a shoestring budget". Ugh. And every piece of narration is nearly this awful. (By the way, documenting a well-planned expedition with predetermined stops/destination is NOT sailing on a whim). It's a shame cause the rest of the crew seemed interesting but they were made quite secondary to the narrator's super pretentious babbling: "what are seen in abundance are fishing fleets that use the island nations as a staging ground for their thankless task of rapidly depleting the Pacific of anything semi-edible". Talk like human, you tool.